Read a March 2021 Reading Eagle article about the commissioners update, New Strengthening Families Program (10-14) Begins in AprilRead More , Job Opening: Drug & Alcohol Prevention SpecialistRead More , New Murals will Communicate Joy in RecoveryRead More , Celebrate Safely with Holiday MocktailsRead More , While addiction is always a multifaceted issue, Hollenbach said the rise in overdose deaths is due in large part to drug, Click here to learn about our prevention education programs. PHOTOS: Drug bust in Berks, Lancaster, Schuylkill counties, Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after 31 years, ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, Teen among those killed in horrific Route 33 crash, 1 dead after head-on crash in Butler Twp., another taken to hospital, 2020 overdose deaths highest-ever recorded in Berks, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, North Heidelberg Water System customers urged to suspend overnight water usage due to leak in system, Fireworks for Reading's 275th anniversary moved to new date, Former Pennsylvania health official will visit Kutztown University, Exeter celebrates boys basketball's 1st-ever title, Former NFL athlete Ross Tucker speaks at Olivet 'Leaders & Legends' dinner, Masks to become optional at LVHN facilities, hospitals not associated with patient care, 'This is the first explosion of spring': Longtime Lehigh Valley lawyer, orchid connoisseur judges Philadelphia Flower Show, After delay due to pandemic, Lehigh University opens Business Innovation Building, Actor Daniel Roebuck touts faith-based films made in Lehigh Valley, Greater Valley YMCA President and CEO to retire, Rep. Wild misses votes this week due to 'unexpected medical condition', Basketball doubleheader at Whitehall High School set for Friday, in big championship night for District XI, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, Boeing CEO loses $7M bonus, keeps $22.5 million compensation, Ford to raise production as US auto sales start to recover, Amazon pauses construction on 2nd headquarters in Virginia, Stocks jump as Wall Street cruises to best day since January. Charges: Felony Retail Theft. Digital Counties Survey 2021 - Winners Announced (govtech.com) . Search form. Stock Buybacks: A Good Signal or a Waste of Money? The Berks County District Attorneys Office charged nearly 30 identified as being involved in a large-scale drug ring, including one person in Lancaster city. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. Source: Caernarvon Township Police Department. The cocaine had already been removed by Border Force officers at Portsmouth International Port on Sunday after the consignment arrived on a cargo ship from Columbia the previous day. Berks County, with the city of Reading, Pa. at its heart, has become a statewide leader in civil asset forfeiture. Some of those drugs included heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. bucks county drug bust 2021first photograph ever. Wanneer u onze sites en apps gebruikt, gebruiken we, gebruikers authenticeren, veiligheidsmaatregelen toepassen en spam en misbruik voorkomen, en, gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content weergeven op basis van interesseprofielen, de effectiviteit meten van gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content, en, onze producten en services ontwikkelen en verbeteren. Berks, Reading investigators bust large drug ring. "We're already in the double digits for 2021.". From Business: Community Prevention Partnership, established in 1992, is a social welfare organization offering a variety of prevention services to the Berks County community 11. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Berks County District Attorney John Adams announces 23 arrests. "People are dying every day from overdosing on some of the substances that were confiscated in this investigation," said Berks County District Attorney John Adams. Education The investigation was unable to identify the exact source of the drugs used by the people who overdosed and who died, Adams said. Latest news on crime, court trials, and police incidents in Reading and Berks County, PA. The CW Announces Its New 7-Night Primetime Schedule For 2021-2022. COVID has been horrible for addiction, said Santoro. This significant seizure means that these dangerous drugs cannot reach the streets of London and beyond, where they have the potential to cause great harm to people and communities. Following up on leads, Vice investigators were able to obtain a search warrant for the second floor of 343 North 8th Street. Over 100 law enforcement officers raided those seven locations dismantling the ring in an effort designated Operation SmackDown. Berks Weekly is an independent, locally owned digital newspaper covering the latest regional news and headlines in the City of Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. He said they also confiscated several weapons and cash, including some from a secret compartment in Rivera's car. Error! What started with a lower-level street cocaine dealer in Cumberland County became the bust of a multi-million-dollar drug ring, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom . Fentanyl is getting mixed with everything.. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the seizure of around 2.3 tonnes of the Class A drug that had been brought in on a consignment from Columbia is believed to be one of the largest ever in the UK. On March 31, 2021, Berks County Commissioners and a panel of experts gave an update on the opioid crisis in the county during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief County Detective Michael J. Gombar, left, and Nelson Ortiz, head of the district attorney's drug task force, display drug paraphernalia confiscated in a roundup of suspected dealers who purchased their products in bulk out of six Berks locations. Possession of Marijuana, & 35 780-113(a)(32) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Submit a Tip. Search form. As a result of the ongoing investigation, City of Reading, members of the Berks County District Attorney's Drug Task Force and the Reading Police Department's Narcotics Unit served a search warrant early this Tuesday on the 100 block of Walnut Street in Reading. Adams issued a public health alert on Sept. 13 in response to the rash of overdoses. The investigation discovered the that defendant, Nunez-Trego is Cruz's girlfriend and they lived at 229 S. Reading Avenue, Boyertown, PA, together. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. October 4, 2021 at 1:23 p . Arnaldo Rodriguez-Rosario, age 30, 609 S. 18 Street, Reading, PA, Stephen Santiago, age 49, 329 Locust Street, Reading, PA, Roberto Cruz-Rodriguez, age 52, 636 S. 17 Street, Reading, PA, Ramon Cruz-Cruz, age 35, 3226 Montrose Ave., Lauredale, PA, Brigido Casilla-Cabral, age 44, 133 West Windsor Street, Reading, PA, Studio & Offices: 401 Penn Street, Reading PA, Suite 162, Alvernia University CollegeTowne. Damarius Patterson, 21, of Marischal Road in Lewisham, Asharm Patterson-Low, 27, of Dunheved Road in Croydon, and Lucy Pinkney, 24, of Limpsfield Avenue in Croydon, all pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs at Lewes Crown Court in December 2021. READING, Pa. - Several people are behind bars as part of an investigation of an alleged drug trafficking organization that spanned three counties. The strike force seized a record 14 pounds of meth in a recent operation. Those highlighted in red are in custody the others are still at large. Investigators say that ring made about $20 million dollars in drug sales. Mar 25, 2008. Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. Berks Regional News Trio busted, nearly $300K worth of drugs seized in Berks Caitlin Rearden Jan 26, 2021 Updated Mar 24, 2021 SHILLINGTON, Pa. - A drug bust has taken nearly $300,000 worth of. On Sunday, December 6, 2020, at approximately at 5:00 p.m. based on the investigation, the Berks County detectives obtained a search warrant for Nunez-Trego and Jesus Cruz's apartment. A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community - the things you love, and the places you care about, by the people you know. Berks County District Attorney John Adams announced the completion of Operation Ice Out on Wednesday. The ring that was taken down Wednesday is thought to be behind the blue packets of opioids that led to the overdose outbreak that overwhelmed local hospitals last fall, Adams said. A Reading man described as a "major source" of heroin and fentanyl in Berks County was arrested during a drug bust in the city that also led to the seizure of more than 1,000 packets of Authorities say the suspects are accused of pushing heroin, cocaine and marijuana in several area . Ten men have been arrested after armed police seized 184 million worth of cocaine smuggled into the UK in boxes of bananas. PIOTRKOWSKI, DANNY LEE - Felony Retail Theft. Metropolitan Police. Carranzana-Sanchez is facing 852 felony charges and 284 misdemeanor charges. Information on charges and bail was taken from court documents. New Starbucks line a curiosity in Italy, Nan Goldin is going to the Oscars, and she wants to win, What the Tech? About Us; For Criminal Justice; For the Public; In the News; Directory. Support local journalism. Packaging material related to the packaging and processing heroin and cocaine. Sponsored By. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); News The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration brought out a heavy hitter an informant paid more than $1.9 million over the past two decades for his tips to help agents seize more . Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site. Increasingly rainy and windy with a brief wintry mix this evening changing to rain; wintry mix lasting longer in the Poconos, where 1-3" of snow and sleet plus a glaze of ice possible. There was a problem saving your notification. They confiscated several high-powered weapons and hundreds of thousands of dollars of drugs. While much of the news wasn't good, with an unfortunate increase in overdose deaths, presenters stressed that treatment and support remain available in the county. (AP) Authorities say an 11-month investigation that began with a drug overdose in southeastern Wisconsin has netted 106 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value up to $6 million. The combined law enforcement team utilized all investigative means and tools at their disposal. If you know the whereabouts of Sanabria or Matthew, call the Berks County detectives at 610-478-7171. Five men were held after taking delivery of the pallets at the Tottenham industrial estate, while another five were arrested at a different industrial estate in Enfield. District Attorney John T. Adams announced during a press conference Thursday that raids the previous day of six locations in Reading and one in Birdsboro had netted 17 arrests. 881. While the Berks source of the tainted drugs has been stamped out, there is evidence that the local ring is part of a bigger drug network that stretches into other cities and states, he said. Pinkney was arrested in Worthing where heroin and crack cocaine worth 6,760, more than 2,000 in cash and a mobile phone connected to the county line was found in a property connected to her. 14 people were taken away in handcuffs. Detectives determined an organization with ties to Reading was supplying the dealer, prompting the detectives to contact detectives in Berks County. The investigation was part of the departments Operation Cease Fire initiative, which is designed to reduce violence through the use of targeted enforcement details. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? MSI Media Ltd is not responsible for the content of external sites. You can also contact Crime Alert Berks County by sending a text to 847411, starting the message with keyword alertberks, or by calling 877-373-9913.